A faith-based organisation, the Covenant Truth Ministers Fellowship (CTMF), has cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency among individuals and groups to alter previously accepted agreements after benefiting from them, warning that such actions undermine trust, justice, and social stability.
The warning was contained in a statement titled “God Honors Covenant, Not Convenience”, anchored on scriptural passages including Ecclesiastes 5:4–5, Matthew 5:37, and Proverbs 11:3. The message emphasized that integrity, once established through commitment, should not be compromised when circumstances change or when personal interests shift.
The group stressed that both spiritual and societal relationships are built on the foundation of trust, which it said can only be sustained when agreements are honoured in full, regardless of evolving advantages or disadvantages.
It questioned what it described as selective moral reasoning in society, asking:
“What shall we call it when people enjoy the peace, stability, and trust created by an agreement, but suddenly change the narrative when it is time to honor their own side of the commitment? Is this justice? Is this righteousness? Is this the Christ-like way?”
The group further warned against shifting standards after benefit has been derived from established arrangements,
“If an agreement preserved peace and mutual respect among people of different faiths, why should the standard suddenly change after one side has fully enjoyed its benefit? Why do some speak of ‘competency’ only when it is another’s turn? Was competence absent when the agreement worked in their favor?”
It also stressed the importance of consistency in moral judgment, stating: “Church, competence matters, yes, but integrity matters more. Character matters more. Faithfulness to one’s word matters more.”
The group added that instability in agreements weakens social trust, noting: “A people who continually shift the goalposts after benefiting from the game destroy trust, and where trust dies, peace becomes fragile.”
The message drew attention to what it described as the temptation to reinterpret or abandon agreements after they have served their purpose for one side, warning that such behaviour raises moral concerns, particularly when fairness is replaced with selective reasoning that favours convenience over consistency.
It further argued that the principle of covenant remains central to biblical teaching, noting that God’s faithfulness is not altered by circumstance. The group referenced the biblical account of God’s covenant with Abraham and the teachings of Jesus Christ, which emphasize consistency in word and action.
The sermon also addressed the concept of competence in relation to fairness, stating that while merit is important, it should not be used as a shifting standard to invalidate previously accepted arrangements after benefits have already been enjoyed.
According to the group, societies that repeatedly change the terms of engagement after benefiting from them risk weakening the trust that holds communities together. It warned that when trust erodes, unity becomes fragile and conflict becomes more likely.
